SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame hockey team fell to the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday night, 7-4, despite a valiant effort in the second period with three goals in a three minute span.
The Badgers struck first for the second consecutive night, capitalizing on a turnover by the Irish in their own end for the 1-0 lead just 5:35 into the contest.
Wisconsin scored twice more before the Irish found an answer, a rocket shot from Carter Slaggert that beat the Badgers’ netminder top shelf to get Notre Dame on the board.
The Badgers would score once more, on a delayed penalty, to make it 4-1 at the first intermission.
With the Irish back in the penalty box just 2:14 into the second period, Wisconsin net their fifth goal of the night and second on the man-advantage to extend their lead.
Notre Dame took advantage of the man-advantage just a few minutes later, netting their first powerplay goal of the weekend off the stick of Maddox Fleming to make it a 5-2 game.
The Irish scoring continued with a pair of goals from Landon Slaggert and Brennan Ali just 15 seconds apart to draw within one of the Badgers but they were unable to find the equalizer through the remainder of the period and skated to the locker room after two frames trailing 5-4.
Wisconsin grew their lead again with a wraparound tally at 8:06 of the third period to make it 6-4 with just under 12 minutes left in regulation.
The Irish opted for the extra attacker in the final four minutes but the Badgers found the empty net for the 7-4 score.
GOALS
- Drew Bavaro fired a stretch pass up to Tyler Carpenter in the neutral zone who found his linemate open at the blue line where Carter Slaggert carried the puck into the zone before firing a shot off. His goal, sent top shelf, was his second of the season and put the Irish on the board at 12:23 of the first period.
- Maddox Fleming sparked the Irish offense about halfway through the second period, capitalizing on the powerplay for his second goal of the season. Paul Fischer and Trevor Janicke both earned assists on the play.
- The scoring continued less than three minutes later with Landon Slaggert spinning out front of the net before tapping a shot passed the Badgers’ netminder to cut the deficit to two. Michael Mastrodomenico and Cole Knuble were credited with the assists on the play.
- Just 15 seconds later, Brennan Ali scored to draw the Irish within one at 11:25 of the second period. Grant Silianoff chipped a pass over to Ali who fired the shot into the back of the net to make it 5-4.
UP NEXT
The Irish are back on the road next weekend for a pair of games against Ohio State University January 12-13 in Columbus, Ohio.
The team will be back inside Compton Family Ice Arena in two weeks to host Penn State University (January 19-20) for alumni weekend.